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The “Volunteer Soldier of America” along with the pioneer settler made this great land of ours. His courage in performing his duty will stand forth in the annals of history for all time.

There is one soldier of the American Revolution buried in Perry Township. This is his story:

William Haggerty

Within the sacred soil of the old Baptist Cemetery lies the dust of the township’s only soldier of the Revolution.

On May 12, 1776, William Haggerty enlisted for the period of two years in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment. His company commander was Captain Lowden and his regiment was commanded by Colonel Hand. His place of enlistment was Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Haggerty was in the battles of Long Island, White Plains and was at the capture of General Burgoyne at Saratoga. He was honorably discharged after his tour of duty at Valley Forge.

Haggerty married Nancy Buford and they had four daughters; Sally, Nancy, Mary and Lucinda.

On April 2, 1821, while a resident of Mercer County, Kentucky, Haggerty applied for a soldier’s pension. He stated that he had no trade but was a soldier by profession. Due to his age and infirmity he was not able to work.

Records show that he was living in Lawrence County, Indiana, in 1830, where he moved to be near his children who had moved here previously. Haggerty died in 1836 and was buried with his wife in the Springville Baptist Cemetery. His grave is marked by a large limestone monument and a government marker.

–Taken from the Book: Springville, Indiana – Village on Spring Creek (Sesquicentennial Edition) Compiled and Written by Jay Wilson, Jr.